King Josiah of Judah knew that something was wrong with the nation. Sacrifices were still offered and prayers said, but nothing seemed to go right. Society seemed to be coming apart, and the nation was threatened from many different directions. Then something momentous happened: an old book was discovered within the walls of the temple, and it was probably Deuteronomy. It was supposedly the legacy of Moses, written before the entry of the Israelites into the Promised Land. When they read it, they realized how unfaithful they had been, and how the practice of idolatry had damaged their relationship with God. Josiah initiated a tremendous reform throughout the land. Whenever we feel that we are drifting away from God, we should reexamine our lives to see if we have been truly faithful to the commitment we have made.

Many people claim to speak for God or make truth claims of all sorts. How do we know when their claims are true? Jesus tells us just to look at the fruits of their words and actions. If it results in justice, equality, compassion, reconciliation, healing, hope, and new life, then there is a good chance that it is at least on the right path. But when division, fear, injustice, cruelty, selfishness, exclusion, and violence are the results, run as fast as you can! Very simple. Let us use this little tool in our discernment of the many voices that shout at us from all directions. It is a good guide for the spiritual journey.